What detector to buy for under 150 USD? Brand new to the hobby, so might be good for it to be simple to use.

[internetprotocoladdress]

Hello! I just bought a bounty hunter pinpointer, and now I am looking for a metal detector under $150. I'm mostly going to be detecting on beaches, so something that works with wet sand is preferable. Coins are the main thing I want to find. A couple of metal detectors I am looking into right now are the Minelab go find 44, which is on sale at walmart and going for $104, as well as the Minelab go find 66, which is going for $140. A few others I was thinking about were the Minelab X-terra intrepid for $100 and a miyay metal detector which is on sale on amazon and going for $70. The Miyay is apparently cheap trash, but it does have a lot of reviews on amazon and is only 70 dollars. Another one is the Bounty Hunter Tracker IV, which is $73. Thank you all in advance for the help!

 

[John Madill]

Forget all of those. Go on Marketplace and look for a used machine.
For $150 you might find a Nokta Simplex+. Maybe a Minelab Vanquish 340. Certainly a Garrett Ace 250.
All are good starters. May come with accessories like a digger or scoop.
If you like the hobby you will upgrade regardless of what you first buy.

 

[internetprotocoladdress]

Forget all of those. Go on Marketplace and look for a used machine.
For $150 you might find a Nokta Simplex+. Maybe a Minelab Vanquish 340. Certainly a Garrett Ace 250.
All are good starters. May come with accessories like a digger or scoop.
If you like the hobby you will upgrade regardless of what you first buy.

Found a Garret Ace 250 for 100 on fb marketplace. Is that a good deal? Also, will buy if one other person thinks that a used garret ace 250 is better than a new minelab go find 44.

 

[Diga]

Are they freshwater or saltwater beaches that you will will be detecting at? If salt, you probably don't want a single frequency detector. I recommend a simultaneous multi-frequency detector. Also, do you need it to be waterproof?

 

[Rattlehead]

I agree with John and Diga. I picked up a used Vanquish 340 off of FB marketplace for $100. Great machine for the money. Multi-IQ performance and very easy to use.

Vanquish > Ace > Go Find

 

[John Madill]

Found a Garret Ace 250 for 100 on fb marketplace. Is that a good deal? Also, will buy if one other person thinks that a used garret ace 250 is better than a new minelab go find 44.

That is a very good deal. Easy to see if it works before you buy. Bring ten dollar bills and offer $90.
Will work fine in dry sand. much better than a go find

 

[MuddyMo]

If hunting saltwater beaches then a used vanquish would your best choice. They’re very good for land hunting and about as simple and good proof as any thing made. If you can’t find a V then find a detector with ground balance like a used xterra pro, X10 or a simplex model.
If freshwater beaches then most any quality detector will work. Personally I wouldn’t use an ace 250 regardless of price but it will work. There are many better detectors that you can get for the same money.

 

[internetprotocoladdress]

Are they freshwater or saltwater beaches that you will will be detecting at? If salt, you probably don't want a single frequency detector. I recommend a simultaneous multi-frequency detector. Also, do you need it to be waterproof?

Mostly freshwater but I will occasionally go to saltwater beaches

 

[internetprotocoladdress]

I agree with John and Diga. I picked up a used Vanquish 340 off of FB marketplace for $100. Great machine for the money. Multi-IQ performance and very easy to use.

Vanquish > Ace > Go Find

Do the vanquish or metal detectors in general go on sale on Black Friday? Asking because there are no Vanquish 340 listings in my area. Or should I just go for the used Ace 250 for 100 dollars?

 

[Rattlehead]

Do the vanquish or metal detectors in general go on sale on Black Friday? Asking because there are no Vanquish 340 listings in my area. Or should I just go for the used Ace 250 for 100 dollars?

You may see some sales on the 340 soon since Minelab is releasing a new 360 series. I’ve seen the 340 listed as low as $179 on the Serious Detecting website.

Personally, I think the Vanquish is a much better detector than the Ace 250. It’s Simultaneous Multi Frequency, and doesn’t have those god awful bell tones.

 

[D&P-OR]

Do the vanquish or metal detectors in general go on sale on Black Friday? Asking because there are no Vanquish 340 listings in my area. Or should I just go for the used Ace 250 for 100 dollars?

Stay away from the Ace 250.---Go for the Vanquish 340---you will thank us later!

 

[internetprotocoladdress]

Since most people recommend the Vanquish, I’m most likely just going to wait until there is a sale on them and pick one up. Any other gear that I should get? I already have a bounty hunter pinpointer and a trowel.

 

[internetprotocoladdress]

You may see some sales on the 340 soon since Minelab is releasing a new 360 series. I’ve seen the 340 listed as low as $179 on the Serious Detecting website.

Personally, I think the Vanquish is a much better detector than the Ace 250. It’s Simultaneous Multi Frequency, and doesn’t have those god awful bell tones.

How big are these sales when the new series releases?

 

[Rattlehead]

How big are these sales when the new series releases?

No idea. I don’t even know for sure if they’ll have a sale. I doubt you’ll see them go below $150 new. Might see more hitting the used market from people who are upgrading.

I do see a new one listed on eBay for $159 with free shipping.

 

[D&P-OR]

Since most people recommend the Vanquish, I’m most likely just going to wait until there is a sale on them and pick one up. Any other gear that I should get? I already have a bounty hunter pinpointer and a trowel.

Get a finds bag of some sort to carry on your person.----Can be as simple of one as a (small) carpenters apron.

 

[internetprotocoladdress]

No idea. I don’t even know for sure if they’ll have a sale. I doubt you’ll see them go below $150 new. Might see more hitting the used market from people who are upgrading.

I do see a new one listed on eBay for $159 with free shipping.

In that case, is there much of a difference between the ace 250 and vanquish? Because on fb marketplace im seeing one for 100 USD I might grab. Would the ace work on wet sand and with a little bit of saltwater? If so then should I also get a different coil for the ace, or would that be a waste of money? Sorry for throwing so many questions at you in one post

 

[Rattlehead]

In that case, is there much of a difference between the ace 250 and vanquish? Because on fb marketplace im seeing one for 100 USD I might grab. Would the ace work on wet sand and with a little bit of saltwater? If so then should I also get a different coil for the ace, or would that be a waste of money? Sorry for throwing so many questions at you in one post

Yes, big difference between the two. The Vanquish is SMF and will be much better for wet sand. Better audio (IMHO) and very deep for an entry level detector. Its sort of like a simplified, stripped down Equinox 600, which is a very capable detector. The Ace 250 is single frequency and uses what they call bell tones, which carry very little info about the target.

Sure, you can find stuff with the Ace and lots of people use them, but if you’re asking my opinion, I’d spend the extra $60 and grab the Vanquish.

 

[metaladdict]

I own an ace 250 and it doesn't work well in saltwater, Definitely spend a little more and get the vanquish 340! Also I own a vanquish 440 and it works in saltwater.

 

[internetprotocoladdress]

Yes, big difference between the two. The Vanquish is SMF and will be much better for wet sand. Better audio (IMHO) and very deep for an entry level detector. Its sort of like a simplified, stripped down Equinox 600, which is a very capable detector. The Ace 250 is single frequency and uses what they call bell tones, which carry very little info about the target.

Sure, you can find stuff with the Ace and lots of people use them, but if you’re asking my opinion, I’d spend the extra $60 and grab the Vanquish.

Would the nokta score be better due to being entirely waterproof so I can take it into the water? (I know its not in my price range, just if it goes down in price on black friday)

 

[MuddyMo]

Yes, any of the 3 Scores would be a great choice but probably well over $140 used. It’d be worth it over the Vanquishes if getting in the water.